Dear Supporters,
No new signatories formally joined this Invitation today. Regardless, I can close the day content and satisfied.
I am enveloped in the fragrance of possibility.
Today I received a phone call from Del Demedeiros, Executive Director of Project Delivery Services, Real Property Division of the Province of BC. (A mouthful! This Division will become the Ministry of Infrastracture on April 1st.) Del is the most senior BC Government leader of the Japanese Canadian Memorial Monument Project. We spoke for over half an hour.
It must be an ultra challenging role for him, where he sits in the grand scheme of things as a BC government decision-maker-in-the-high-ups! I was honoured he phoned me personally and respect him very much. Del is a kind and curious person.
Early next week we will meet together on the project site at St. Ann's, joined by:
- Mariam Okwengu from the Attorney General's Office. Mariam is the Province’s Executive Director of Policy, Programs & Legislation
- Suzanne Tabata, CEO of the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society. Suzanne will fly over from Vancouver for the meeting.
It is such a wonderful feeling: to be met with curiosity, interest and respect for what I I may bring to the table. I'm thrilled to meet with both of them. I will listen, will understand much more than I could ever have without this opportunity, and will provide my perspective and experience for the whole project team's consideration. I have no doubt this meeting will be of great service to the whole process, including all stakeholders involved.
I am blessing this update with the attached photo I took today. This lovely little fungal community was growing on a decaying branch in the forest, where all that's left of the tree is decaying branches.
I invite everyone to walk through Beacon Hill Park (Miqán) and St. Ann's this weekend, if you are able. Notice all the trees you see, as you drive or walk to where you're headed. Please bear witness to this ground and what is attempting to grow up from it.
In these ecological corridors, parklands and boulevards within the City, the tree death underway is extensive and alarming.
Walk with eyes wide open and a willingness to see the reality. Come ready to wrap your arms around a dying tree—to bow before an ecosystem slipping towards its hospice moment in Winter 2026. This forest ecosystem has been so poorly mistreated and neglected by those who would be paid to manage the landscape. Management, it seems, understands almost nothing about how to cultivate ecosystem health.
This is happening, right now in Victoria BC, Lands of the lək̓ʷəŋiʔnəŋ, Lands of the Land Itself. Our very own community.
Ask in earnest that we may learn how to love this forest back to health once again.
In Reverence,
Sally